Edward Young Higbee (1810 – December 10, 1871) was an

Episcopal Episcopal may refer to: *Of or relating to a bishop, an overseer in the Christian church *Episcopate, the see of a bishop – a diocese *Episcopal Church (disambiguation), any church with "Episcopal" in its name ** Episcopal Church (United States ...

clergyman. Born in New Jersey in 1812, Higbee was ordained a deacon in 1829, and became rector of Trinity Church in Washington, D.C., in 1834. From 1835 to 1836 he served as

Chaplain of the United States Senate The chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for senators, their staffs, and their families. The chaplain is appoi ...

before becoming assistant rector of

Trinity Church, New York Trinity Church is a historic parish in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, whose church is located at 89 Broadway opposite Wall Street, in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. Known for its centuries of history, promine ...

, where he served for the remainder of his career. He married twice, and had four children by his second wife. He died unexpectedly in 1871.⋅

Early years

Higbee was born in 1810 in

Mount Holly Township, New Jersey Mount Holly is a township that is the county seat of Burlington County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is an eastern suburb of Philadelphia, the nation's sixth largest city as of 2020. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's po ...

, the son of Rev. Daniel Higbee and his wife Beulah Hollinshead. He was educated at

General Theological Seminary The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church (GTS) is an Episcopal Church (United States), Episcopal seminary in New York City. Founded in 1817, GTS is the oldest seminary of the Episcopal Church and the longest continuously operating ...

from which he graduated in 1829.

Ministry

On July 9, 1829, he was ordained a deacon, and at once took charge of the parishes of St. John and St. George in

Harford County, Maryland Harford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 260,924. Its county seat is Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland, Bel Air. Harford County is included in the Wa ...

, his ministry being based in Havre de Grace. He was ordained a priest on June 27, 1833, in St. John's Church, Havre de Grace. In 1834 he accepted the rectorship of the recently organized Trinity Church in Washington, D.C.,

Daniel Webster Daniel Webster (January 18, 1782 – October 24, 1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who represented New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the U.S. Congress and served as the 14th and 19th United States Secretary of State, U.S. secretary o ...

being among his friends there. He was elected to

Chaplain of the Senate The chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for senators, their staffs, and their families. The chaplain is appoi ...

in 1835–1836. In 1836 he was elected to serve as assistant rector of

, which he served admirably during the remaining years of his active ministry (1836–1871). Much of his work centered upon Trinity Chapel, one of six houses of worship under the auspices of Trinity Church. During his ministry, Trinity Church built its current building, whose tower was at the time of its completion in 1846, the tallest building in New York and would not be surpassed until 1890. Higbee was found dead in his room early on Sunday morning, December 10, 1871.

Personal life

Higbee married first Mary Sophia Thomas (1815–1836), the daughter of Abraham and Mary Thomas. Their only child, Edward, died at birth. Higbee married secondly, Frances Henley in December 1837.The Letters Of

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator. His original works include the poems " Paul Revere's Ride", '' The Song of Hiawatha'', and '' Evangeline''. He was the first American to comp ...

, 1814-1843, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Andrew R. Hilen, p. 67 Their children were: John Henley Higbee, Fanny Lear Higbee, Beulah Alice Higbee, Eliza Henley Higbee and Daniel Higbee.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Higbee, Edward Young 1810 births 1871 deaths Chaplains of the United States Senate General Theological Seminary alumni People from Mount Holly, New Jersey People from Havre de Grace, Maryland 19th-century American Episcopal priests